Oxford University

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Oxford University

Lots of students, from all over the world, come to Britain each year to study. Nick visits Oxford University and the London School of Economics and talks to some students to find out what it's like to study in the UK.

Do the Preparation task first. Then watch the video. Next go to Task and do the activity. If you need help, you can read the Transcript at any time.

Preparation

Before you watch

Nick meets some students at university in Oxford and London.

What have you heard about Oxford University?

Do you know anyone who has visited Oxford?

What's the most famous university that you know?

Watch the video to find out more about going to University in the UK.

Transcript

Transcript

Oxford should be about an hour's drive from London. It’s very popular with tourists and students. And Oxford University is one of the top ten universities in the world.

I’m at the top of the Carfax Tower. It has amazing views over the city and from here you can see that the university really is at the heart of the city.

Oxford University is made up of thirty eight different colleges. There are twenty thousand students studying at Oxford from nearly a hundred and fifty countries. Studying here can be an amazing experience. Some of these colleges are more than 700 years old.

Many students get involved in activities outside their studies. The Oxford University Fencing Club is over a hundred years old. It is still popular today.

Nick: How important are the extracurricular activities like the sporting clubs and societies?

Student: I think it’s really important. I think especially in Oxford where it’s a really strong academic environment it’s really easy for people to just get really caught up and just live in the library. It’s definitely good for people to get out and do something different.

Nick: Is it difficult to get the balance right between your university work and your sport?

Student: Well, I tend to be busy all of the time. So I’m studying during the daytime and then in the evenings I come down here and train. You have to work really hard but at the same sense you can also, kind of, play really hard. You can train hard and do really well at sports and other activities.

.....

There are universities in most big towns and cities in Britain. This is the LSE, the London School of Economics, part of the University of London.

Many students come from abroad to study in the UK. They have to find tuition fees, food and somewhere to live. It can be expensive.

Waqas Adenwala is from Pakistan and lives in Rosebury Hall, the university halls of residence about 2 kilometres from the main campus.

Nick: Hi, Waqas.

Waqas: Hi Nick.

Nick: Nice room.

Waqas: Thank you.

Nick: So why do you live in a Halls of Residence?

Waqas: It’s really nice. It’s a short walk to the campus, it’s cheap and I get to meet a lot more people.

Nick: What’s it like to live here?

Waqas: It’s great. There’s so many things I can do over here. There’s a canteen, a bar, a TV room and then there’s even a laundry.

Nick: Will you live here next year?

Waqas: I will. In the first year everyone gets the accommodation, but they move out to share a flat next year, but I’m definitely staying here.

Back on campus, students have social areas where they can relax. The Students’ Union building is the place where they can meet friends after a busy day.

Michael Lock is from Hong Kong and is studying law at the London School of Economics. He’s also International Students’ Officer.

Nick: So what goes on here at the LSE Student’s Union?

Michael: Well, Nick, as you can see, students will come here between their classes and lectures and will meet up with their friends before going home or going to another class.

Nick: And you’re an International Students’ Officer. What does that mean?

Michael: About 70 percent of our students come from overseas, so I work with some of them in helping them in visa issues and generally settling down in a new home in London.

Nick: And what tips would you give to any students thinking of coming to study in the UK?

Michael: I think my number one tip is – get a nice jacket because it can get pretty cold – and secondly – know what you are looking for – because different universities are very different. And finally keep an open mind – do not be afraid to meet new people and have fun!

Nick: Good advice. Your shot.

Studying in Britain can cost a lot of money and students need to work hard but the main thing to remember about being a student is that it’s also a lot of fun.

Language level

Comments

Hi littlemoon86,
If you look up the words go on in the Cambridge Dictionaries Online search box (in the column on the right of this page), you'll see that it is a phrasal verb and that one of its meanings is happen.
The reason that the verb in the question is goes (and not does go) is because the subject of the verb go is the question word what. I would recommend that you read our page on verbs - questions and negatives, especially the part where it says "Questions with who, which and what" for a more detailed explanation of this.
Best wishes,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

Hi the Learn English Team, would you please explain the exact meaning of "You have to work really hard but at the same sense you can also, kind of, play really hard." Kind of ? thank you very much indeed

Hi Kacci Kwok,
You can find a great explanation of 'kind of' using the Cambridge Dictionaries Online window on the right. You'll find a definition:used when you are trying to explain or describe something, but you cannot be exact
an example:It was kind of strange to see him again
and a link to related information:→ See also kinda​

You can also hear the pronunciation, see the style and so on. It's a great tool for looking up words and phrases like this.
Best wishes,

Thank you for the kind words! In answer to your question, if you watch the video, Nick and Michael are playing snooker, a British game like pool. 'A shot' in snooker is when you hit the white ball into the other balls. With 'Your shot', Nick is telling Michael it his turn to play. We sometime use 'Your shot' to mean 'Your go' or 'Your try' in other situations, too.